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traveling

The time has come, I can't believe it, this year has flown by! Feels like I was just packing my bags having no idea what to expect of the country and life I was heading to. And here I go again, embarking on yet another adventure, with no idea what the future holds for me. Quite literally, I have no real travel itinerary (this is in my opinion, the only way to travel!) except I have until October to get from Hanoi, Vietnam to Thailand where I will find a job teaching English, in a town still undetermined. Possibly the craziest or bravest thing I have done up to this point in my life (and I have done a lot of crazy shit.)

It's absolutely crazy how much shit I have accumulated in the past year. Like mind-boggling. Why, oh WHY did I need that stupid mask for Halloween, the yoga mat that I rarely used since my gym already had some there, 10 different blankets/pads for my bed, the art supplies I HAD to have for school, or the countless random pieces of clothing that I deemed necessary for my life to be complete. In the final weeks of my stay here in Korea, I am already trying to get rid of the stuff I used only once and have no real need for on my travels and the winter clothes an coats that were valuable here during the winter months but will thankfully not be needed again. I knew this was not a permanent home and while most of my purchases were not totally frivolous, lesson learned, you can't take it with you.

Well here it is, Sunday afternoon, the sun is shining and its a beautiful day to be alive! But here I am, sitting with the shades drawn on the window (which is honestly pointless since no sun can get past the concrete building it faces) eating boxed mac and cheese and drinking a coke, watching the first season of the L word, which seriously has me contemplating switching teams (not really seriously, but its a damn good show) nursing what could be called a post traumatic stress induced hangover, while wearing a pair of left behind sweats that are far too big but still have the faint smell of his skin.

You really have a great blog about South Korea. It's nice to learn many things about South Korea from your blog. When I wrote my comment at your blog about Cheongok Cave, I really didn't know that you have this great blog. It's more amazing to realize that you are not Korean.

A reader writes me in search of her birth parents (question edited for length):

Hi Chris,

I hope you are doing well. I found your blog through a google search (hope you don't think that's weird!) but I've always wanted to visit South Korea. I was adopted from Seoul and currently searching for my birth parents [...] But at the very least, I want to return to my home land and explore South Korea.

I'm wondering, besides Jeju, what would you consider the best place in Korea for a romantic overnight/weekend getaway? I'm talking relaxation, not like a "romantic" hike on Seoraksan. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeju is definitely a romantic place, don't get me wrong. Until recently, the island was considered the honeymoon spot for Koreans, and a number of hotels offered honeymooner services that broke the ice for the new couple to, um, introduce themselves to each other. Unfortunately, the island is a plane ride away - not the easiest thing to spontaneously plan. The following suggestions, therefore, recognize that getting away needs to be reasonably easy.

Author's note: 'Life in Korea' posts are aimed at the newer expats among us. If you have a more experienced perspective to offer, please share in the comments. I've also recently written about traveling rural Korea by bus - a similar subject also worth reading about if getting off the typical tourists path.

Author's note: Life in Korea posts are aimed at the newer expats here in Korea. If you're one of my wonderful veteran expat readers, consider this the Idiot's Guide to Korea - useful information to some, while a review to others. Anything to add? Comment away.